Saturday, December 15, 2012

The 2012 fishing season for most in the Mid Atlantic Region is over. The holidays will be here and past shortly, only long/dark cold evenings are in our near future. You can sit around being miserable for the next couple of months or you can start putting together a plan for the 2013 Fishing season. Personally, I am looking forward to the 2013 fishing season.

You may think, what does he mean by putting a plan together for the fishing season? It is really pretty simple, it's the old What, Where and Why of fishing. Think about your past year; what would you do differently, where would you like to fish and why? Do you need additional equipment, should you fish different tournaments? Do you want to fish different bodies of water, take that special fishing trip you always dreamed of or fish a spot on your home water that you never fished? It can be as simple as wanting to learn to use a specific lure better, say a jig. In that case, do the research, get a supply of jigs ready by purchasing them or making them and get ready to learn how to use a jig. Planning for the up coming fishing season can take a while but it can also be a lot of fun.

It is up to you now, you can sit around watching reruns on TV and being miserable or you can get ready for the up coming fishing season. If you use this down time to plan your 2013 fishing season, I'll bet you will have the best fishing season ever. I know what I'm doing, I'm looking forward to fishing season.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Every year when boaters get their boats ready for the fishing season after a long winter layoff, they find that their batteries have gone bad. Have you thought about your boat's batteries lately? Will your batteries be any good in the spring? Battery failures are more common than ever, today's bass boats use more battery power than in any time in the past. We have added a lot of new equipment to our boats, bigger engines and other devises that all run on battery power. Batteries have never been cycled like they are today, causing them to fail at a alarming rate and fail much quicker than in the past. This blog discusses tips to keep your batteries from going bad over the long winter months.

Marine batteries lasted 3, 4 even 5 years in the past before going bad, today with the heavy loads and constant cycling they are lucky to last three years. Batteries that are not maintained can last as little as a year and a half. So what can you do to save your batteries from going bad over the winter? Well that depends on whether your batteries are worn out or not. If they are worn out they can't be saved by keeping them maintained, but if they are good and just need maintenance your can keep them from failing. Here is a list of things that you should do to keep your batteries maintained. The first thing you should always do is keep your batteries fully charged. A charged battery can not freeze, this means that if your boat is sitting all winter you should charge your batteries a least once a month. Cold weather along with today's engine and some electronics cause a constant draw on the battery which draws the voltage out of the battery. So your battery is going dead even if your are not using your boat. Some customers ask about pulling their batteries from their boats, don't do that, just keep them charged. The next really important thing to do is to make sure that the fluid level on the batteries is full if you have a battery that is not maintenance free. Only use distilled water to fill your batteries, not tap water that has many minerals in it. After filling the batteries fluid level charge the battery until it is fully charged. Battery connection are the next item on the list, make sure you have good battery connection on all your batteries. Bad connection cause poor charging, higher amp draw and heat that causes the battery to be cycled more. When checking the connection do not grab a pair of pliers and check the wing nuts, grab the wires and see if they can be moved, tighten if loose. I suggest replace all wing nuts with hex huts for better connections on every battery. That is the end of the list to help keep your batteries from failing over the winter.Pretty easy stuff huh?

Batteries are the heart of today's bass boats, take care of them and they will take care of you. Now it is up to you, go check on those batteries before eating that big Thanksgiving meal, you will be to tired afterwards.

Friday, October 26, 2012

We don't get many Hurricanes here in the Mid Atlantic, but it is starting to look like one is coming to visit us Monday or Tuesday. The time to get your boat ready is now, not Sunday or Monday when conditions may make it unsafe to prepare. Is your boat ready for Hurricane Sandy?

Many boaters in our area don't even think about getting their boat ready for a hurricane because they keep their boats on the trailer. You might think that your rig will be OK sitting in driveway or in your yard. Some customers keep their boat in the water, if you do? You should pull it out as soon as you can and then get it prepared for the storm. I keep a couple of boats on South Florida where hurricane preparing your boat is a must, below I will share some thoughts that you might not have thought about.

Preparing your boat for a hurricane is much different than preparing for afternoon thunderstorms that hit our region on a regular basis. Hurricane's last for hours, even days, we are in the 4" to 8" of rain cone as of this writing. Tree roots become loose from the torrential rains, the wind will be blowing for hours, even healthy trees come down during a hurricane. The first thing you must do is find a safe place to park your boat. Look around the area that you usually park your rig; can trees fall on it? Are there items near by that could be blown into your boat by the wind (trash can, carts, bikes, etc...)? If your rig is parked on pavement or concrete, chalk your wheels so the wind doesn't blow your boat into something like your car or truck. If it is parked on the grass, make sure that you can back up to it without getting stuck in the mud after the storm passes. Pull your drain plug, you might have a auto bilge pump, but we are talking a lot of rain, your battery might go dead trying to pump all the water out. If your batteries go under water, they can cause damage to your boat. Park with the trailer nose up so the boat drains well. Charge your batteries, you may not have power for some time after the storm and you might need your boat after the storm in case of a emergencies. After the storm make sure that you get the the standing water off your your boat cover, the weight of the water will stretch the material and possibly break your windshields.These tasks might seem like a pain, but it is easier to get ready for a hurricane than it is to come back from not getting ready and costs a lot less.

Do these things and you should be as prepared as possible for the upcoming storm, don't get ready and I will talk to you next week. Have your insurance agents phone number and the claim number for us when you drop your boat off for repairs. Please be careful during this storm and hopefully everything and everyone will be OK.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Fall is fast approaching, season ending fishing tournaments and championships are going on now. Some have already put their boats away to get ready for hunting season, while others are just putting their boats away for the season. I know that I blog about ethanol way to much, but that should be a sign to you that it continues to big a huge issue for our customers. If you continue to use your boat year round, ethanol will not be a issue that you will have to deal with. If you do store your rig over the winter months, burn that gas out of your boat before your you put your rig away.

Ethanol is used in all gasoline that is distributed along Route 95, this means that everyone using gasoline in the Mid Atlantic area uses it. That means you use it in your boat, your lawn mower, chain saw etc. Ethanol has a shelf life of under 90 days before it has phase separation. At which time it will begin to absorb water, creates an acid solution and loose its octane rating. This is really bad of your outboard and any other gasoline engine that you put into storage. Phase separated gasoline can blow your engine, corrosion can cause damage to your engine components and cost you a lot of money.

Preventing problems from ethanol phase separation is pretty easy. Before you put your rig away for the season, add some brand of ethanol fuel treatment to your boats gas tank (we use Sierra E Guard or Star-tron at our shops), then run the boats gas tank as low as possible the last time you plan on using it. If you have already put your boat away without doing this, drain your gasoline out of your boat and put it in your car or truck, then add ethanol treatment to your tank. When you put gasoline in your boat for the first time next spring, fill it up with high test gasoline, this will raise the octane level of the older gas when blended with fresh gasoline.

Remember that you still need to do your standard winterizing, gear oil filter, greasing etc. If you winterize your boat and take care of the ethanol issue you will be a lot better off when spring arrives. If not, we will be waiting to see you in the shop in the spring.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Summer is almost over; the days are getting shorter, kids are back in school and cold fronts are starting to come through, but the fishing in our area is about to heat up. Every fall the fishing gets going in our region as the dog days of August disappear.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year to bass fish. All the tournaments trails are coming to a close, everyone has to fish hard to make the year end classics and the champions are crowned. A whole year of effort comes to a conclusion. Local fishing events like the Renegade Fall Tournament are held where you see all the same anglers year after year. It's just great to see everyone and the fishing is excellent.

Our local waters fire back up as summer passes and the fishing is just awesome. The Upper and Lower Potomac River get hot as the grass starts to die and the fish go to the hard cover for the season. That favorite red Bomber crackbait is the bait of choice on the Lower Potomac. Tubes and hair jigs are the go to lures on he Upper Potomac. Jerkbaits and crackbaits work on the local lakes such as Lake Anna, fish head to the creeks and the jig bite that will soon be in full swing as the cooler temperatures get colder each night. If we are lucky enough to get some rain this fall, the Susquehanna River gets really cranking, some of the best smallmouth bass fishing you will ever see. What's not to like about the fall fishing that is right in front of us.

I hate winter, short days and cold windy temperatures make it a long depressing time of year for many outdoorsman. I have only found one thing good thing about the end of summer and the thought that winter is on the way, fall fishing is here.and I look forward to it every year.

Monday, July 30, 2012

There are more boat accessories on the market today than ever before; items like power anchors, GPS, side imagining, trim tabs and the list goes on and on. Customers add these items to new and old boats at great expense. The real question is; do we really need all these new accessories or do we just want them?

Everyone, including myself, can't believe how much money is spent equipping bass boats today. We have people bringing in older bass boats and spend upwards of $10,000 on new equipment for their boat. We also have customers adding as much as $15,000 to up grade their new boat, new boats that have more and better equipment than ever before.It is amazing to me that anglers would spend so much money on items that anglers in the past did without.

Most of these accessories serve a purpose or give you additional information to make you a better angler. Power Poles can keep you on the fish and replace your regular anchor. How many of you ever carried a anchor in your bass boat, thought so. How about $3,500.00 side imagining depth finder with chart plotters and GPS. Really cool technology, but how many times have you heard of someone being lost on the Potomac and the Coast Guard going out to rescue them? Me either.

I myself have some of these accessories on my personal boats. I always seem to be able to convince myself that I need them, but in reality, I probably just want them. Some of our customers state that if they up grade their present boat they can keep it for another few years before buying a new rig, makes sense if their old boats equipment had failed. If their equipment was still working, like me, they probably just want those new hi tech goodies. Customer ordering new rigs with all the equipment is fine, just remember, if you ad $15,000 worth of goodies to a $500 jon boat, it will cost $15,500 for that jon boat.

The bottom line on these new hi tech accessories is that they are really cool to have and use. These accessories cost a lot to purchase and only you can decide if they are worth the additional dollars. The truth be told, Rick Clunn and many of the anglers of the past caught alot of big bass for a long time without these tools. If you can afford these items, cool go for it, if not, you will probably be just fine without them.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The 4th of July is a very popular day for boating here in the Washington D.C. area; but be careful if you go out on the Potomac River around DC.

Watching the 4th of July fireworks celebration in the Nations Capitol will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, the experience is even better if you watch them from an boat on the Potomac River. Boating is great fun with friends anytime, but this is a special night every year on the river. If you are going to take advantage of this very special event, you should take some special precautions to keep you and your friends safe.

Many boats come out on the river early to get a good parking spot to watch the fireworks on the 4th. They load all their friends in the boat for a day of food, fun and partying. Nothing wrong with partying on the water as long as the captain of the boat takes control of everyone on the boat and refrains from partying. A long hot day on the water with to much alcohol puts everyone in danger. Even if your group is well behaved, you must take care to watch the other vessels around you that may not be well behaved. Heat is also a large concern of being out on the water all day, having cold water or sports drinks on board if someone starts to feel bad, then you should get them off the water if they continue to feel poorly. Sunblock is a must on the river also, burns only hurt for a couple of days but skin cancer is a serious concern over the long terms. I know I sounds like a bummer, but it is better to be safe and have fun than the alternative.

The most important thing to do if you are going to the Potomac River for the 4th of July is to have fun and be patient. Ramps will be crowded and lots of other boaters will be moving up and down the river. Take your time and enjoy the whole day. Be safe and have fun, maybe I will see you there. Happy Birthday America!!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Back in the day, kayaks were only used by the adventurous types, normal people used canoes and jon boats for their small boating needs. Have you noticed that you rarely see canoes anymore? Drive around our area during rush hour and you will find that you see kayaks on top of cars, sometimes multiple kayaks on multiple cars, kkayaks are everywhere.

Why are kayaks getting so popular? I believe that kayaks have become so popular because of several reasons. First, kayaking may be the easiest way to enjoy yourself on the water today; no license needed to operate, you don't need an large vehicle to transport them, they use people power not gasoline and they cost less than almost any other vessel on earth. The next best thing about a kayak is that you can use them anywhere; local ponds, lakes, rivers and even the ocean. Kayaks are light and can be handled by almost anyone. Kayaking is also a great way to get a workout and kayaking in the great outdoors is truly better than running on a treadmill next to me for a hour. I believe the biggest reason people have taken to kayaking is the new breed of kayaks on the market today. These new kayaks are not the kayaks of the past that you slid into like a foot in a sock, these new sit on top of kayak are stable and comfortable to sit on. Some kayaks like the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks even have pedals and rutter that propel and steer the kayak. They pedal kind of like a bike, fins under the kayak push the kayak along and you steer with a handle to change directions. That's pretty cool stuff, they allow you to fish from these boats virtually hands free. Kayak accessories are also available, endless options from GPS, sails, live wells, outriggers and even carts to transport your kayak from your car down to the water. All of the items above have make kayaking more popular than ever before.

If you want to get out on the water, get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank, kayaking may be right for you. I must warn you that kayaking is addictive, easy and fun. The next thing you know, you will have your kayak on top of your car coming home from work so you can stop and kayak till the sun goes down.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Anglers that live in the Mid Atlantic are truly lucky to live so close to the Potomac River and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. These two fishing locations are amongst the best bass fishing destinations in the country and luckily only a short drive for most anglers living in the Mid Atlantic States.

With high gas prices and hotel rooms costing so much, making a day trip to the Potomac and Upper Bay is easy on your wallet compared to driving long distances and having to spend the night in search of quality fishing. These two bodies of water really have shown to have amongst the Countries Best Bass Fishing.

This past weekend, the FLW and BFL held a Tour Event and the All American on the Potomac River. These tournaments were both held at the National Harbor Complex just below the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The touring Pros that fished in the Tour Event could only fish below South Point and the All American Anglers could only fish above the WW Bridge. The Pros fished for four days after making cuts after Day 2 and Day 3 while the All American Anglers fished three days after the cut following Day 2. The winner of the Pro Event had a total weight of 66.06 lbs. for 4 days or a 16.51 lbs. average per day. The winner of the All American had a total of 43.04 lbs. or 14.34 lbs. average per day. In fact, the Tour Event had a greater weight (200 more lbs.) on the first two days than the Okeechobee Tour event that holds all the records. Many local anglers felt bad for the All American Anglers because they had to fish the bad section of the river. It appears from these weights in both events that the Potomac River has no bad sections. Almost every Pro angler that fished the Tour event stated that the Potomac is in the top 10 bass fishing locations in the country.

I can remember putting fishing trips together with my buddies, we would drive hundreds of miles to a great fishing location down south. We would spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars chasing that little green fish we all love to chase. That has all changed now, all we have to do is going fishing on the Potomac or the Upper Bay to catch all the quality fish we want. Man are we lucky to live so close to such great bass fishing.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

We all like to fish and boat on beautiful sunny days, but we all need to be careful, because the sun can kill you. I am sitting here at MARE Inc. on a rainy Tuesday in early May, making arrangements to attend a funeral for one of our longtime friends, he was one of the marine industries best that I have dealt with for some 24 years. He died of skin cancer after fighting a courageous battle for two years. He loved the outdoors and especially small mouth bass fishing on the Susquehanna River.

Many of us have gone out fishing and boating without sun protection and, after a couple of days of peeling and discomfort we recovered. But some people do not recover. Prolonged exposure to the sun and multiple sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Several types of skin cancer left unaddressed can cause death. Everyone of us that spend time outdoors enjoying sports and recreation need to take steps to ensure that we are protected from the ultra violet rays that destroy our skin.

Today there is a great number of products on the market that can protect you from the sun for endless hours. Sun screen lotions, clothing materials that breath but protect you from UV's, hats and many products from a company called Buff. When it comes to sun screens, I prefer those that use zinc. Zinc is the white paste like cream that the lifeguards in all the movies have on. You will not tan using zinc, it blocks the suns rays and is not attractive to look at but it works. Clothing materials have come to the market that wicks away moisture yet breath so you never get overheated even when using long sleeves. Many of these clothing manufactures even put SPF ratings on their products. Hats and visors protect your head and even when used with polarized eye wear improve your vision. One quick tip is to find a hat or visor that the underside of the brim is dart colored, really helps your vision. The biggest trend in sun protection brought to us from a company called Buff. Other companies make similar products but they are the trailblazers when it comes to sun protection for anglers. Buff offers a sleeve that pulls down over your head and covers your neck, it can be worn several ways as preferred by the user. They also offer gloves, I know "gloves", these gloves are comfortable and can be worn even when handling the smallest task, like knot tying. So as you can see, there are lots of ways to protect yourself from the sun while fishing and boating.

Thursday I will attend Oz's funeral, back when he was young, the use of sun protection was not as advanced as it is today. There are no more excuses for any of us getting skin cancer from sun exposure. We all should use Oz's death as a sign to take better care of ourselves. As for Oz, tight lines and big small mouth jumps my friend.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

It's that time of year again, the weather has broken and boaters are getting their boats out for the first time this season. Many are having problems with their engine; won't start, idles poorly or not at all, mostly because ethanol has raised it's ugly head.

Several years ago Congress and the EPA decided that we needed to start using ethanol to boost octane in gasoline because the chemical used previously was linked to causing cancer. The use of ethanol is gasoline has many issues related to it; less power, less fuel economy, higher food and fuel costs but when it comes to boat motors, the biggest problem is phase separation. Phase separation in laymen terms is unblending of the fuel, like your ice tea when it sits in the glass melting. Dark on top, light on the bottom. When this occurs from sitting the ethanol absorbs water, the octane in the fuel drops as much as 20% and it creates an acid that eat aluminum. By the way, most of your engine is made of aluminum. Ethanol also eats the rubber components in the fuel system, causing primer bulbs and fuel lines to break up and clog other components in the fuel system. Sometimes costing hundreds of dollars in repair costs. None of this is good for you or your boat.

The morel of the story is, if your boat has been sitting since last summer, take a fuel sample or take it to a service center to have the fuel checked out before you try to take it to the water. Doing this will save you time and possibly a lot of money. The alternative is to gamble and hope that ethanol doesn't raise it's ugly head.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

When most people see the dogwood trees start to bloom, they think Spring is finally here. They comment on the beauty of the trees and the sweet smells that go along with Spring. I however look at the Virginia State tree blooming in an entirely different way, dogwood trees blooming means that the big bass are ready to eat. So when I see the annual occurrence it's time to go bass fishing.

Having bass fished since my youth (which was a long time ago) some of my best experience in catching large bass has come during the dogwood tree bloom. It's funny, I have caught a very large number of large bass (over 5 lbs.) over the years but I can remember every one I caught during the dogwood bloom. Maybe it's because it was the first big fish of the season. It is a true sign to me that Spring is here and the fishing season is in full swing.

Two of these fish stand out to me the most, both were caught in the same spot, the same way on Lake Anna one year apart. It's possible that it was the same exact fish as it was almost 8 pounds the first year and almost 9 pounds the next year. I let both fish go as I have with every bass I have ever caught with one exception. That one exception was a fish I caught with my good friend Jeff Coble on Falls Lake in NC. It was a 11 pound 3 ounce monster caught on my favorite bait; a spinnerbait. By the way, that monster bass was caught on April 2, 1992 during the dogwood bloom.

The dogwood bloom happens every year, usually between April 1 and April 15 depending on the weather and your geographical location. I have found that it does not matter what part of the country you are in, when it happens, it's happening on the water. So when I see dogwood trees have started to bloom, I go fishing and I suggest you go to.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Potomac River is on fire, no it's not burning, but the bass fishing is red hot. Early reports are that bass are being caught in large numbers and the larger fish are showing up shallow. It is a great sign for the up coming season when the river is on fire early.

What is causing this to happen this year? Is it because of the mild winter that we have had most of the season? Maybe it's because we had very little high water on the Upper Potomac or it could be just one of the cycles that the river goes through from time to time. I believe that the fishing is already great because of all three reasons.

The first reason is a mild winter which allows the grass to stay healthy and has kept the water clear. When that happens, it creates habitat for the food source and gives the young of the year a chance to survive the winter months. All things that are great for the fishery.

The second reason is that the Upper Potomac to this point has not really flooded this winter. No flooding means that thousands of tons of sediment has not washed downstream to the Lower Potomac and a large amount of cold river water did not come with it. No sediment and no large amount of cold river means the water quality and clarity has remained constant. Water clarity allows sunlight for the grass to grow and the shallows to warm up. Again, great for the fishery.

The third and final reason is that the Potomac seems to be on the up tick, fishing has been good and heading toward great over the last couple of fishing seasons. There has been more larger fish being caught and the overall numbers appear to be on the increase. This is great for all the anglers that fish on the Potomac River.

Whatever the reason, fishing appears to be great. When the fishing is this good, this early, there is only one thing to do; get out there and enjoy it. It's time to go fishing on the Lower Potomac, because the river is on fire.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Every bass fisherman that has ever fished a tournament has dreamed of fishing the BassMaster Classic. The Classic is the holy grail of fishing. The Classic is the private playing ground for the pros and will only remain a dream for local angles. Then Kelly Pratt appears, local guy fishes B.A.S.S. Open on the James River and beats all the Pros. This week Kelly Pratt is fishing in the BassMaster Classic. Ha, the little guy can fish in the BassMaster Classic after all.

The road to qualify for the Classic can be driven on several separate paths for an local angler. The most common way that a local angler can qualify for the BassMaster Classic is through the Bass Federation. Another way to qualify is to fish the Pro Tour and finish high enough in the yearly standings. But when reality sets in, most angler find it impossible to compete at that level or find the funding necessary to follow the tour around the country. Some estimates claim it to cost as much as $100,000.00 for just one season, this is generally above the pay scale of many local anglers. Then there is the way Kelly Pratt qualifies for the Classic, Kelly fished as a Pro when B.A.S.S. came to the James River last year. He honed his skills on his home body of water, worked his butt off and when the Tour came to town he put it on them. Many local anglers fish these events when the Tour comes around, most fish hard but fail in the task of beating professionals that make a living angling. Maybe it's nerves, maybe it's having to find enough fish for the whole week but for some reason most local anglers fail to win. None of those reasons stopped Kelly from winning, he won a trip to the big dance of bass fishing, the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, The BassMaster Classic.

I would like to wish Kelly Pratt of Willaimsburg, Virginia the best of luck in The Classic, we are rooting for you and hope that you have a great time fishing with the big boys for the championship. I would also like to thank you for showing us that it is possible to live out our dreams if you work hard enough. Thanks Kelly, us little guys can fish in the BassMaster Classic after all.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Have you ever gone to a fishing flea market? Fishing flea markets are held by Bass Clubs and Local Fisherman around the country as fundraisers and it gives them a venue to sell their old fishing equipment. But these fishing flea markets offer more, they offer what bass clubs used to have; camaraderie. You get to see a bunch of local anglers that you have lost touch with, you make some new friends and you get re energized about fishing. The whole experience is wonderful.

I was lucky enough to go to a local fishing flea market just this past weekend. I had a ton, I mean a ton of old tackle that I have collected over thirty plus years of bass fishing. I had simply run out of room for new tackle. It is pretty normal for a fishaholic to continue buying tackle even though they have more than you could ever use in a lifetime. I got there early to unload and set up my three tables of tackle I planned on selling. Once there I found that I had more tackle than I had space for, again pretty normal. I had priced my used tackle to sell, I probably sold a lot of items too cheap but I didn't want to pack up and haul home any remaining tackle.I also gave a lot of small fishing items to kids that attended the show with their families. It was great to see so many kids excited about fishing and the thoughts of fishing with my son or fishing with my dad as a kid crept into my mind. Pretty neat deal, again worth the price of admission. I sold or gave away all but one small box of crankbaits, lures which I didn't mind keeping any way. It was a successful event and I had a great time.

The bottom line is that I sold about $10, 000.00 worth of old fishing tackle for about $2, 000.00. Not a good day by many standards, but I argue that it was an awesome day over all. I got to talk to a bunch of old friends, made several new friends and talked fishing all day. We talked about fishing trips of the past and those we hope to have in the future. I saw the glimmer of excitement in the eyes of the kids that attended the flea market with their parents or grand parents. What a great family sport fishing is and not just when your out on the water fishing. So if you are looking for some the camaraderie and a great time overall, I suggest checking your area for a fishing flea market. It will re energize you and bring back the greatest memories of your fishing life. It did for me.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Cold dreary days really suck; I am sitting here in my office on a 35 degree January Monday, trying to come up with something good to blog about. Pretty hard to do when it is cold with snow on the ground, drizzling, foggy and all you want to do is go fishing.

Then the guys in the showroom started talking about the B.A.S.S. Southern Open held last week on the Harris Chain in Florida. They really caught them, the winner of the event (Chris Lane) had a three day total of 72 lbs 11 ounces. That's a little over 24 lbs. a day. That got us thinking, bass fishing has never been better than it is right now and we still have 342 days left to fishing in 2012.

When you look back at the past and see the weights of fishing tournaments in the good old days, in most cases they are being overshadowed by the weights of today. Talk to the fisherman that fish the Potomac River, Okeechobee, Guntersville, the Harris Chain and many others. Anglers are all saying the same thing, fishing is better now than any time in the past. Is it because we are better fisherman, have better equipment or are the fisheries simply better? I can't answer that question and maybe no one could, but I can tell you that we are truly looking at a great year of bass fishing in 2012.

The upcoming fishing season is just a few weeks away for most of us. Days are starting to get longer. Temperatures are going to stabilize within the next 6 weeks hopefully and we will be back on the water doing what we love to do; fish. The time to get your equipment ready is now. Lousy days like today will soon be a thing of the past. So when you look outside today and see the white stuff through the rain and fog, remember better days are just around the corner. 2012 is going to be the best bass fishing we have ever seen and that is something to be excited about.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The hectic running around that the holidays demand are over and the new year is here; soon a few warm day will appear and the opportunity to fish will present itself, will your tackle be ready?

The days are already getting longer, but daylight is still at a premium. Cold nights and reruns on TV are still part of the anglers near future. So what can you do to get pass these long nights? Work on your fishing equipment. It is the next best thing to getting to go fishing with your equipment. So what can you do to get ready? Below is a list of easy to do items that will make your first few fishing trips seamless and more enjoyable.

Every angler gets surprised by the weather and their fishing buddy calls up and says; "it is going to be 70 tomorrow lets go fishing". You then have to run around and get all your stuff ready; tackle , rods, reels etc... The trick is to do it all now, so when it's time you'll be ready. Step 1 Fishing line. Go get all your reels out, make a list of what lines you need, go get those lines and get it done. Step 2 Tackle. Go get your early season fishing tackle ready, No not your top water boxes; the jig, grubs, rattle traps and spinner baits. Check the boxes for rusted hooks caused by leaving tackle wet, discard those baits cause you would throw them anyway when you are on the water. Check skirts, swivels and trailers. Get your terminal tackle ready; weights, toothpicks and hooks. Step 3 Rods & Reels. Check your Rods and Reels outs, check those guides and reels seats, grease those reels or take them to get serviced by someone that can if you are not comfortable taking your reels apart. I have found that reel maintenance truly makes a big difference. They cast better and further after service and they are quite a bit quieter. Step 4 Check the batteries in your weight equipment. If you have a Cull-Um Rite or other type of scale, change the batteries now. Gather up your fish pins, clean your bump board. Have all the culling equipment working and ready to go. Step 5 Check your net. Make sure the handle is good, the netting is attached and doesn't need repair. All of these steps are easy to do, getting them ready keeps you from getting board and will make fishing more enjoyable.

So tonight when you get home, eat dinner, go get on the couch and start to watch that rerun of CSI, get up, get your tackle out and start getting ready for that call from your fishing partner, "Hey it is going to be 70 tomorrow".